But “soap brows” is a trend that originally emerged in 2016, after being used by drag queens for years. It's now making its rounds on social media after a viral tip from Rihanna's makeup artist, Priscilla Ono, and gaining widespread popularity.
Soap brows are aptly named. Though this trend has been on the fringes for a while, the creative makeup-obsessed youths on TikTok brought it to the mainstream. The idea is to spray a bar of glycerin soap with either a facial spray or just plain old water, and then to use a spoolie to brush the brows.
This technique is exactly what it sounds like: you apply soap to your eyebrows. While it may sounds silly, soap works wonders to give your brows shape and volume. According to Sesnek, soap coats the hairs, which in turn gives them a fuller appearance.
The look of soap brows is essentially synonymous with laminated brows, which are bushy brows with brow hairs that are noticeably lifted.
She says that holding brows in place with soap has always been a common technique among makeup artists, but a social media boom brought it to the mainstream around 2016 and hasn't dissipated since.
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Coating the hairs in soap gives them staying power, so you can mold the strands to your liking and trust that they'll lie flat all day long. "Almost like a glue stick," says brow expert Joey Healy.
Vaseline is very moisturizing , so it can help relieve dry or flaky skin — and hair that's hydrated is less likely to break off. To use, take a tiny amount of Vaseline from the jar using your hands and rub it on and around your eyebrows, taking care to coat the full brow. They'll feel smooth and look shiny.
Mattioli explains that even lower-pH soaps contain surfactants that are designed to be washed away. Therefore, "Leaving them on the skin/eyebrow can absolutely cause dryness and flaking." Plus, she adds, once the soap dries, it could also leave a crusty, flaky residue in your brows.
But if you have very sensitive skin and want to try soap brows with the utmost caution, pick up a pack of these Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bars. Dove soap in general is a safe choice for sensitive skin, but these soaps in particular are extra gentle, since they're hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.
The hair of the eyebrows are made up of keratin protein, and egg is a great source of protein. Keratin is a major ingredient in most hair growth supplements. Egg yolks are also a rich source of biotin, which helps your brows grow. You will get a faster growth rate if you use this treatment twice a week.
Eyebrow transplants are a procedure where a cosmetic surgeon takes a graft of hair (plug). The surgeon takes the graft with both the hair and its roots (follicle) and moves it to the eyebrow area. The hair graft is usually removed from the nape of your neck or the area around your ear.
"Even though Vaseline has many beauty perks, including relieving topical skin conditions, it doesn't do much to actually stimulate hair growth for your eyebrows," notes Chambers-Harris. "However, applying Vaseline can give the appearance of fuller brows because it can coat each strand making them seem thicker.
With all that in mind, putting soap brows into practice is actually quite simple. All you need is a bar of soap (something clear like Pears Original is best), a disposable spoolie brush, and some water or setting spray. Just wet your brush and lightly drag it across the soap.
While Dr. Lee explains that soap, in general, can be drying, allowing the residue to sit on the skin for extended periods of time poses a threat of getting irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). That means you could experience a rash, irritation, itching, and visible bumps or blisters.
She tells Allure that holding brows in place with soap has always been a common technique among makeup artists, but a social media boom brought it to the mainstream around 2016 and hasn't dissipated since. "All new trends are picked up super fast nowadays; it's crazy," she says.
According to Alyssa Anderson, resident makeup artist for Anastasia Beverly Hills, brushing your brows with a soap-coated spoolie, or brushing them up after the soap has started to set, can cause you to easily and unknowingly pull out brow hairs (via Bustle).
"Using a lash mascara in place of a brow gel can definitely create a fuller more dramatic effect," said Luhrs. "I also find that mascara has a stronger hold compared to a gel. If you are looking for a more natural, less full-on brow, then try a gel. [It's] perfect for a first-timer who's perfecting their stroke.
According to beauty bloggers and vloggers, olive oil is an ingredient that can encourage thicker and faster-growing brows.
Coconut oil is a generally safe and inexpensive remedy that may help you grow fuller brows.
Which One is Better? Brow gel has been a fix for unruly or sparse brows for quite some time, but soap brows is really where it's at for fluffed, precise brows! Those with extra unruly brows may agree that soap brows provide an ultimate hold that brow gel doesn't.
To really amp up the hold of your soap brows, you can also dampen your spoolie with a makeup setting spray. Spritz the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray onto your brush and move on to the next step before it dries.
If you're worried about leaving a cloudy coat of white residue on your brows, Healy says to swap an opaque ivory soap bar for a clear bar instead. For something a little more undetectable, Dr.
While you can use hair gel as brow gel, it's not the most ideal swap. Rather, try using a gentle soap and water for a simple yet effective trick. And if you come across a clean balm lying around, that'll do for an on-the-go option. Great alternatives for those of us blowing through our brow gels.